OBJECTIVE: To identify the glaucoma clinical practice patterns among the members of the Philippine Glaucoma Society (PGS) from 2015 to 2016 using an online survey. METHODS: An online link was sent to each consenting PGS member which directed them to two poll sites. These sites asked questions about demographics and their preferred clinical practice patterns. Frequency and percent distributions were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: There was a high response rate from PGS members at 97% (42 out of 43 members). More than half of respondents (51%, n=22) defined glaucoma as glaucomatous optic neuropathy with an evident visual field loss. IOP was routinely measured by 90% (n=38) of the respondents with majority preferring to use the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) (98%, n=41). Gonioscopy was done on all new patients by all PGS members but only 62% did regular gonioscopy on follow-up consultations. Most of the respondents relied on the 90D lens (88%) to assess the optic nerve. Visual field examination (VFE) was routinely requested by all respondents. Pachymetry and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) were used sparingly at only 43% and 12% respectively. Appositional angle closure was addressed by performing laser iridotomy with majority of the respondents preferring a site that is covered by the upper eyelid (57%). Prostaglandin analogues were the top choice as first-line monotherapy for eyes with open-angle glaucoma. Majority of the respondents (55%) opted to do laser trabeculoplasty (LTP) as an adjunct to medical therapy. Mitomycin-C was the preferred intraoperative antimetabolite for trabeculectomy by 98% (n=41). Ahmed (71%, n=30) was the more favored glaucoma drainage device (GDD) by our respondents over Baerveldt (19%, n=8). CONCLUSION: This survey showed majority of the glaucoma practices of PGS members appear to adhere to the current clinical practice guidelines.
Philippines ; Glaucoma ; Tetrahymenina ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: This study determined the incidence of and risk factors for color-vision abnormalities among Filipino patients undergoing directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) for tuberculosis. Methods: A prospective single-cohort study involving newly diagnosed patients with category-1 tuberculosis, recruited from DOTS health centers in Manila, was conducted. All patients were given a fixed-dose combination of rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide for 60 days, after which treatment was continued with rifampicin and isoniazid for 4 more months. The participants underwent complete eye evaluation including color-vision testing and were followed up every month up to the conclusion of treatment. Results: Out of 93 patients initially enrolled, 64 completed the prescribed follow-up and constituted the study group. Baseline color vision was normal. After 1 month of therapy, color vision tested with the Ishihara plates remained normal in all patients, but one failed the Farnsworth Panel D 15 and was classified as tritan while 30 (47.88%) failed the Lanthony Desaturated test. The type of abnormality was unclassified in 20 (66.67 %)patients and tritan in 10 (33.3%). Visual acuity remained unchanged from baseline. Repeat testing after ethambutol and pyrazinamide were stopped showed that color vision was normal using the Ishihara plates and the Farnsworth test, while 5 failed the Lanthony test. Of these, 3 were unclassified and 2 were tritan. In the 3rd to 6th months follow-up, no color-vision abnormalities were noted in the 3 tests. The only risk factor identified was age (p = 0.01) with older patients having a higher risk. Conclusion The incidence of color-vision abnormalities among patients undergoing DOTS was 47.88% using the Lanthony Desaturated test after an average of 39.66 days on quadruple anti-TB therapy. Age was the only significant risk factor observed. The color-vision abnormalities returned to normal within an average of 37.85 days after discontinuing ethambutol and pyrazinamide.
Ethambutol ; Tuberculosis ; Color Vision